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THQ
News
THQ
And WWE Agree To Eight-Year Deal - 23rd December 2009
THQ
and WWE have been tangled in legal disputes for half
a decade over alleged racketeering and licensing shenanigans,
but the litigation is officially over, and according
to an announcement yesterday THQ will continue publishing
WWE games for another eight years. The messy affair
that involved the two companies and toymaker Jakks
Pacific will end with a series of payouts, but both
THQ and WWE voiced satisfaction with their new agreement.
THQ
will pay $13.2 million to the WWE and $20 million
to Jakks Pacific to resolve things, according to MCV.
The settlement was followed by a new licensing agreement
that should make court arguments a distant memory.
“This
agreement ensures that WWE games will continue to
be an important cornerstone of THQ’s annual release
schedule for the long term,” THQ President and
CEO Brian Farrell said in a press release. “We
look forward to working directly with WWE to expand
their brand in the video game space through continued
game play innovation and increased online delivery
of WWE content.”
WWE
echoed those sentiments.
“This
year’s highly rated 'WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010'
video game demonstrates the innovation and creativity
that THQ brings to WWE,” WWE Chairman and CEO
Vince McMahon stated. “This new licensing agreement
will ensure that we continue our tremendous success
in the video game industry in the years to come.”
Profile
THQ
Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) (Toy Headquarters) is a global
American developer and publisher of video games. The
company develops products for video game consoles,
handheld game systems, as well as for personal computers
and wireless devices. THQ's titles span most major
interactive entertainment software genres, including
action, adventure, racing, fighting and wrestling,
first person shooter, puzzle, role-playing, simulation,
sports, and strategy.
The
company maintains a balance of internally created
and externally licensed content in its product portfolio.
THQ's internally created franchises include Saints
Row, Stuntman, Frontlines: Fuel of War, Red Faction,
MX vs ATV, Juiced, Company of Heroes and others. The
company also holds exclusive, long-term licensing
agreements with leading sports and entertainment content
creators including World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE),
Games Workshop (Warhammer 40,000), Ultimate Fighting
Championship (UFC), Nickelodeon and Disney·Pixar.
History
The
company began building out its internal product development
capabilities in 2001 with the acquisition of Volition,
Inc. located in Champaign, IL. Since then, THQ's internal
studio system has grown to 16 studios across the globe
with distinct capabilities across all viable gaming
platforms. Studios such as Relic Entertainment, Paradigm
Entertainment, Juice Games, Kaos Studios, and Volition,
Inc., who are working on games for next generation
of consoles as well as PCs.
THQ's
global distribution network includes offices in North
America, Europe and Asia-Pacific as follows: United
States, Canada and Mexico; Austria, Denmark, France,
Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands
and the United Kingdom; Australia, Korea, and Japan.
Key THQ Wireless brands include Star Wars, WWE and
certain Disney-Pixar properties. THQ Wireless serves
content via all major carriers worldwide including
Sprint, Motorola, Nokia (N-gage), AT&T, Sony-Ericsson,
Orange in Europe and others.
The
company has several titles in development for next-generation
console systems and personal computers, including
Frontlines: Fuel of War, Saints Row 2, Destroy All
Humans!, Company of Heroes and Stuntman. Major franchises
include games based on THQ's long standing licensing
relationships with WWE, Disney/Pixar and Nickelodeon.
In addition, the company holds long-term rights to
Bratz from MGA Entertainment and Warhammer 40,000
from Games Workshop.
On
May 10, 2007, THQ reported its highest annual sales
figures and net profits ever for the fiscal year which
ended March 31. THQ's revenues reached over $1 billion.
Studios
Big
Huge Games
Founded in 2000 by four veteran game developers and
acquired by THQ in 2008, Big Huge Games is a video
game studio focused on cutting-edge technology and
aimed at mass-market game development. Big Huge Games
founders Brian Reynolds, Jason Coleman, David Inscore
and Tim Train continue in the tradition of creating
inspired and innovative games for PC and next-generation
consoles. Creating games that have received numerous
"Game of the Year" awards and accolades,
Big Huge Games is headquartered in Timonium, Maryland.
Blue
Tongue Entertainment
Founded in 1995 and acquired by THQ in 2004, Blue
Tongue Entertainment Pty. Ltd. is located in Melbourne,
Australia. Blue Tongue has released titles in many
genres, from Windows PC simulations to console platforms.
Blue Tongue's most recent games include Barnyard for
the PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, Wii and Windows
PC; and Nicktoons Battle for Volcano Island for PlayStation
2 and GameCube. Today, Blue Tongue is developing original
and licensed titles for current and next-generation
consoles.
Concrete
Games
Located in Carlsbad, CA, Concrete Games was established
by THQ in 2004 and has an expanding team of highly
talented individuals bringing years of game development
experience to the THQ Studio System. Team members
have contributed to titles such as Halo: Combat Evolved
and Halo 2, Medal of Honor, and Everquest. Concrete
Games is focusing on next-generation game consoles
technology and original titles. On January 23rd, 2008,
THQ announced that it would be shutting down Concrete
Games. A "substantial number of the studio's
employees" will be offered positions at other
studios.
Heavy
Iron Studios
Heavy Iron Studios was founded as a THQ studio in
1999. Heavy Iron has worked in close partnership with
creators of high profile, animated feature film properties,
including Disney•Pixar's The Incredibles and
The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie video game. Heavy
Iron's previous hit titles include Scooby-Doo!: Night
of 100 Frights and SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for
Bikini Bottom. Both of these titles were nominated
in consecutive years by the Academy of Interactive
Arts & Sciences for "Children's Title of
the Year." Heavy Iron is working on next-generation
console games within the character action and platform
genres. Heavy Iron Studios is located in Los Angeles,
CA.
Helixe
Games
Founded in July 2000, Helixe Games specializes in
innovative game development for Nintendo handheld
gaming platforms. The studio has produced games for
the Nintendo DS™ and Game Boy® Advance including
top-selling Disney•Pixar's The Incredibles and
Cars, as well as games based on the Star Wars and
Scooby-Doo franchises and numerous titles based on
popular Nickelodeon brands. Today, Helixe is focused
on high profile licensed games for the Nintendo DS
and Game Boy Advance. Helixe is located just outside
of Boston, MA.
Incinerator
Studios
Established by THQ in 2005, Incinerator Studios was
founded by industry veterans with development experience
in the NFL GameDay game, Twisted Metal, and MLB: The
Show franchises from Sony, as well as the Midnight
Club franchise from Rockstar Games. Incinerator produced
Disney•Pixar's Cars for the Wii console, and
it now creating multiple genre-leading projects for
all of the next-generation consoles. Incinerator Studios
is located in Carlsbad, CA.
Juice
Games
Founded in 2003 and acquired by THQ in 2006, Juice
Games released the 1.5 million-unit selling Juiced
in June 2005. and so far, 1.5 millions sales for Juiced
2. The game won the best New UK/European Studio in
the 2005 Develop Industry Excellence Awards. Juice
Games also develops titles for popular handheld and
mobile gaming devices. Juice Games is located in Warrington,
UK.
Kaos
Studios
Established by THQ in 2005, Kaos Studios was formed
by industry veterans of the first person shooter genre.
The group's core team had key roles in Trauma Studios'
Desert Combat, the multi-million download modification
for the original Battlefield 1942, and includes members
of the R&D team for DICE's Battlefield 2. Additional
members of the 50-person team contributed to the development
of shooters that include FEAR, Medal of Honor, and
Doom 3. Kaos is currently developing Frontlines: Fuel
of War, a large-scale FPS title for Windows PC, Xbox
360, and PlayStation 3. Kaos Studios is based in New
York, NY.
Locomotive
Games
Formerly Pacific Coast Power & Light, Locomotive
Games was founded in 1997 and acquired by THQ in 1999.
Locomotive Games has developed racing, arcade, and
action titles for the PSP system and Wii video game
console, including Disney•Pixar's Cars for the
PSP. Locomotive first partnered with THQ on titles
such as Nuclear Strike and Road Rash for the Nintendo
64. After becoming an official THQ studio, Locomotive
developed the motor cross title, MX Superfly. Currently,
Locomotive is working on several titles for both the
PSP system and Wii platform. The studio is located
in Santa Clara, CA.
Mass
Media
The core group of Mass Media came together in the
late 1980s at Cinemaware. In 1995, Mass Media became
an exclusive developer for Time Warner Interactive.
Since then and before being acquired by THQ, Mass
Media was an independent developer. The company is
based in Moorpark, CA, and has worked on such titles
as Full Spectrum Warrior and Full Spectrum Warrior:
Ten Hammers for THQ.
Paradigm
Entertainment
Founded by industry veterans in 1997, and acquired
by THQ in 2006, Paradigm Entertainment has multiple
projects for next-generation consoles, including the
next Stuntman driving game. Paradigm has created a
variety of well-known action games including Pilot
Wings 64, Beetle Adventure Racing, and SpyHunter.
The studio is located near Dallas, TX.
Rainbow
Studios
Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Rainbow Studios was founded
in 1996 and acquired by THQ in 2001. In 2006, Rainbow
developed Disney•Pixar's Cars, a racing title
based on the hit film and released on all major gaming
platforms. Rainbow also developed the "MX"
franchise, including MX Unleashed and MX vs. ATV Unleashed,
both of which achieved "Greatest Hits" and
"Platinum Hits" status from Sony and Microsoft.
During its fifteen-year video game history, Rainbow's
racing and technological expertise gained success
with titles such as: Motocross Madness, Motocross
Madness 2 (winner of Best Sports Computer Game of
2000 by the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences),
Splashdown, ATV Off-Road Fury, ATV Off-Road Fury 2,
and Mat Hoffman Pro BMX 2.Rainbow studios two new
games releasing October, and December are Cars 2 and
MX vs ATV, untamed, According to their main site,
Rainbow Studios is currently developing a new action/adventure
game exclusively for the Wii.
Relic
Entertainment
Based in Vancouver, BC, Relic Entertainment was founded
in 1997 and acquired by THQ in 2004. Relic Entertainment
develops real-time strategy games, such as Company
of Heroes, which is one of the highest rated Windows
PC games. Relic's history of critically acclaimed
titles began with Homeworld, which received several
Game of the Year and Strategy Game of the Year awards
from PC Gamer and Computer Gaming World. Since then,
Relic has released Homeworld: Cataclysm (co-developed
with Barking Dog Studios), Impossible Creatures, Homeworld
2, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War with its expansions
Winter Assault, Dark Crusade and the upcoming Soulstorm,
The Outfit, and Company of Heroes with its expansion
Opposing Fronts.
Sandblast
Games
Formerly Cranky Pants Games. Formed by THQ in 2002,
Sandblast Games brought together veteran industry
talent from Electronic Arts, Nintendo to focus on
cutting-edge design for current and next-generation
gaming platforms. Sandblast Games developed Evil Dead:
Regeneration for the Sony PlayStation 2 and Xbox video
game system, based on the cult horror film by director
Sam Raimi. Sandblast Games also created versions of
the critically acclaimed Red Faction II and Summoner:
A Goddess Reborn for the Nintendo GameCube. Sandblast
Games is currently working on Destroy All Humans!
Path of the Furon for next-generation consoles. Sandblast
Games is located near Seattle, WA.
THQ
Studio Australia
Founded in January 2003, THQ Studio Australia most
recently shipped Avatar The Last Airbender: The Burning
Earth, on PlayStation®2, Wii, and Xbox 360®.
Previously, the studio created the hit Nickelodeon
titles Avatar: The Last Airbender, SpongeBob SquarePants:
Lights, Camera, PANTS! and Jimmy Neutron: Attack of
the Twonkies on the Wii, PlayStation2, Nintendo GameCube
and Xbox®. With a staff of around 90 and a strong
internal technology group, the studio is currently
building titles on sixth and seventh generation video
games consoles. More information about THQ Studio
Australia can be found at www.thqstudioaustralia.com.
Vigil
Games
Vigil Games was founded in 2005, most notably by comic
legend Joe Madureira, and acquired by THQ in 2006.
The team's combined game credits include Unreal Tournament,
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon, Dark Age of Camelot, Daxter,
Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, and others. Vigil Games
is working on blending unique visual style with innovative
gameplay to create next-generation console titles.
Vigil Games is located in Austin, TX.
Volition,
Inc.
Volition, Inc. was acquired by THQ in 2000 to develop
original titles for all major gaming consoles. The
company was created when Parallax Software (the developer
of the Descent series) was split. (The other half
was the now-defunct Outrage Entertainment who developed
Descent 3 and Alter Echo.) Volition, Inc. developed
the FreeSpace series of space simulation computer
games, and other titles including: Red Faction, Red
Faction II, Summoner, The Punisher. In August 2006,
THQ and Volition released Saints Row, the first next
generation open-world title for the Xbox 360 video
game and entertainment system from Microsoft. Among
other innovative features, Saints Row combines extensive
character and vehicle customization with multiplayer
gameplay over the Xbox Live network. Saints Row was
the number one selling game following its release
and received Editor's Choice accolades from IGN.com
and GamePro. They are currently working on a follow-up,
Saints Row 2, scheduled to be released in 2008 for
PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Volition is located in
Champaign, IL.
Additional Developers/Divisions
* Blitz Games
* Game Workshop
* Gas Powered Games
* SimBin Development Team AB
* Team17
* Slingdot
* ValuSoft
* Universomo
* THQ Wireless
* Genetic Anomalies (Acquired in 1999, no longer in
operation)
Upcoming
games
2008
* Darksider: Wrath of War (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
* Destroy All Humans! Big Willy Unleashed (PSP, Wii)
* Destroy All Humans! Path of the Furon (Xbox 360,
PlayStation 3)
* de Blob (Wii,DS)
* Frontlines: Fuel of War (Xbox 360, PC)
* Saints Row 2 (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
* WALL-E (Wii, Nintendo DS, Xbox 360, PC/Mac, PlayStation
2, PlayStation 3, PSP)
* Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War MMO (PC)
* Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War: Soulstorm (PC)
* Worms: A Space Oddity (Wii)
* UFC 2009 (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
* Zoo Tycoon DS 2 (Nintendo DS)
(Credit:
Wikipedia)
Website
THQ
News
THQ WIRELESS INC. AND PLAYBOY ENTERPRISES SIGN GLOBAL
AGREEMENT FOR NEW MOBILE GAMES LAUNCH
First
Release, "Playboy Games: Pool Party,"
Scheduled to Launch Worldwide In Summer 2008
AGOURA
HILLS, Calif. - January 28, 2008 - THQ Wireless Inc.,
a subsidiary of THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI), today announced
that it has signed a worldwide agreement with Playboy
Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: PLA, PLAA) to exclusively
develop Playboy-branded mobile games. The multi-year
Playboy agreement covers the development and publishing
rights to multiple Playboy-branded, lifestyle themed,
non-nude mobile games featuring bikini-clad Playmates
to be released worldwide. The first title, Playboy
Games: Pool Party, is scheduled to launch in summer
2008.
"Given
the extensive appeal and popularity of the Playboy
brand, mobile games based on this license are sure
to provide a fun and entertaining experience,"
said Adam Comiskey, vice president, international,
THQ Wireless. "THQ Wireless is ideally positioned
to provide engaging games with the hallmark of the
Playboy lifestyle."
"The
number of Playboy fans around the world has never
been greater and that popularity is reflected in the
growing sales of Playboy-branded products and services,"
said Ed Lang, senior vice president of mobile, Playboy
Media Group. "Given the growth of the mobile
industry, we're excited to join THQ Wireless in offering
this next-generation form of entertainment to consumers."
Playboy
Games: Pool Party will include a set of mini-games
depicting animated, bikini-clad Playmates at the famous
Playboy Mansion engaged in "pool party sports"
including poolside water balloon fights, waterslide
slaloms and aquatic mechanical bull riding. Developed
by THQ Wireless internal studio Universomo, Playboy
Games: Pool Party is based on actual events held at
the Playboy Mansion and immortalized in the Playboy
Home Entertainment DVD release, Playmate Playoffs,
hosted by Chuck Woolery.
About
Playboy Enterprises Inc.
Playboy Enterprises is a brand-driven, international
multimedia entertainment company that publishes editions
of Playboy magazine around the world; operates television
networks and distributes programming globally; owns
Playboy.com, a leading men's lifestyle and entertainment
website; and licenses the Playboy trademark internationally
for a range of consumer products and services.
About
THQ
THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) is a leading worldwide developer
and publisher of interactive entertainment software.
The company develops its products for all popular
game systems, personal computers and wireless devices.
Headquartered in Los Angeles County, California, THQ
sells product through its global network of offices
located throughout North America, Europe and Asia
Pacific. More information about THQ and its products
may be found at www.thq.com and www.thqwireless.com.
THQ, THQ Wireless, Universomo and their respective
logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks
of THQ Inc.
The
statements contained in this press release that are
not historical facts may be "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking
statements are based on current expectations, estimates
and projections about the business of THQ Inc. and
its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as "THQ"),
including, but not limited to, expectations and projections
related to the agreement with Playboy.com, Inc. and
the Playboy Games: Pool Party mobile video game, and
are based upon management's current beliefs and certain
assumptions made by management. Such forward-looking
statements are subject to risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements, including, but not limited to, business,
competitive, economic, legal, political and technological
factors affecting our industry, operations, markets,
products or pricing. Readers should carefully review
the risk factors and the information that could materially
affect THQ's financial results, described in other
documents that THQ files from time to time with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including its
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2007,
and particularly the discussion of risk factors set
forth therein. Unless otherwise required by law, THQ
disclaims any obligation to update its view on any
such risks or uncertainties or to revise or publicly
release the results of any revision to these forward-looking
statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements, which
speak only as of the date of this press release. (Credit:
Playboy Enterprises).
Playboy Enterprises Inc.
Public Relations
Matt Kalinowski
323-276-4214
mkalinowski@playboy.com
THQ
Wireless
Public Relations
Louise Norton
44-77-47-488-198
louise.norton@thq.com
THQ
Wireless
Investor Relations
Julie MacMedan
818-871-5125
investor@thq.com
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